THE teenager accused of murdering schoolboy Rhys Jones has made his first appearance before a crown court.

The 17-year-old, three men and three youths appeared via videolink at Liverpool Crown Court watched by Rhys’s parents Melanie and Stephen.

The couple, who sat in the front row of the public gallery supported by a police family liaison officer, listened intently as a trial date was set for October 2.

The seven are due to reappear at the court again on Friday July 24 when they will enter pleas.

The Recorder of Liverpool Judge Henry Globe QC fixed the trial date saying it was the first available date an authorised judge could hear the case.

On June 30 the judge will hear applications from those defending the 17-year-old accused of Rhys’s murder to move the trial away from Liverpool.

Jonathan Duffy, defending the teenager, told the court due to the “level of publicity” the youth would not receive a “fair trial in Liverpool”.

The teenager, wearing a Liverpool away shirt with close-cropped dark hair, leant forward and listened closely to the hour-long hearing.

At one point he interrupted to say: “I can’t hear what you’re saying. Can you speak a bit louder please.”

James Yates, 20, of Dodman Road, Croxteth, Gary Kays, 25, of Mallard Close, and Melvin Coy, 24, of Abbeyfield Drive, both West Derby, as well as a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old who cannot be identified, are all charged with assisting an offender.

A second 16-year-old is charged with assisting an offender and possessing a firearm and ammunition.

Passionate Everton fan Rhys was shot in the neck outside the Fir Tree pub as he walked home from football practice in Croxteth Park on August 22 last year.